LaTeX environment setup on macOS. TRIGGERS - install LaTeX, MacTeX, Skim viewer, SyncTeX setup.
Self-Evolving Skill: This skill improves through use. If instructions are wrong, parameters drifted, or a workaround was needed — fix this file immediately, don't defer. Only update for real, reproducible issues.
Use this skill when:
| Component | Purpose | Status | | ---------------- | --------------------------------------- | --------------- | | MacTeX 2025 | Full LaTeX distribution (TeX Live 2025) | ✅ Recommended | | Skim 1.7.11 | PDF viewer with SyncTeX support | ✅ macOS only | | TeXShop 5.57 | Integrated LaTeX IDE (optional) | ✅ Native macOS |
brew install --cask mactex
# Size: ~4.5 GB (includes everything)
tex --version
# Expected: TeX 3.141592653 (TeX Live 2025)
pdflatex --version
latexmk --version
echo '\documentclass{article}\begin{document}Hello World!\end{document}' > test.tex
pdflatex test.tex
ls test.pdf # Verify PDF created
tex --version shows TeX Live 2025latexmk --version shows 4.86a+pdflatex test.tex creates PDF-synctex=1 flag/Library/TeX/texbin to PATH if neededsudo tlmgr install <package>For detailed information, see:
See Also:
latex/build skill for latexmk automationlatex/tables skill for tabularray usage| Issue | Cause | Solution |
| ------------------------- | ----------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------- |
| tex command not found | PATH not configured | Add /Library/TeX/texbin to PATH in shell profile |
| Permission denied (tlmgr) | Need sudo for system packages | Use sudo tlmgr install <package> |
| Package not found | Missing from TeX Live | Run tlmgr search <package> to find correct name |
| Skim not showing PDF | SyncTeX not enabled | Compile with -synctex=1 flag |
| Outdated TeX Live | Old MacTeX version | Run sudo tlmgr update --self --all |
| Compilation hangs | Infinite loop in document | Check for circular includes or missing \end{} |
| Missing font error | Font not in TeX distribution | Install with tlmgr install <font-package> |
| Disk space error | Full TeX Live too large | Consider BasicTeX (smaller) if space limited |
After this skill completes, check before closing:
Only update if the issue is real and reproducible — not speculative.
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Category:developer